Vegetarianism and Christian Beliefs

This assignment examines the relationship between vegetarianism and Christian beliefs. It encourages students to evaluate moral considerations regarding animal consumption, analyze scriptural passages related to diet and stewardship, and consider the implications of a vegetarian lifestyle in a peaceful kingdom established by Christ. The essay also acknowledges that personal dietary choices are complex and should be respected.

Running head: CHRISTIAN ETHICS 1
Should Christians become vegetarians?
Name:
Institution Affiliation:

CHRISTIAN ETHICS 2
Introduction
On my view, I think the Christian should become vegetarians. Over the years there has been
controversy on regardless of whether Christians have the obligation of following the vegetarian,
or at best meat-free diet that has progressed on for the decades (Amato & Partridge, 2013). Most
of the religions possess some type of the dietary laws; for instance the Old Testament, has
detailed the food specifications that are still accompanied by various religions. Moreover, while
looking for the scriptures for the alternatives, interpretations of precisely what the Bible
highlights with regards to whether the mankind should devour other animals or at least differ
much widely. Depending on David Grumett, a lecturer in the Christian Ethics at the University
of the Edinburgh, he has proven there is certainly simply no solitary perspective in the Christian
theology regarding consuming of the animals (Amato & Partridge, 2013). Nevertheless, in the
event that the meat is eaten, Dr David implies there ought to be moral approach. The animals
must be elevated well. They should be recognized in precisely how they may be treated since
they are gifts from God that were meant as companion. Additionally, if they are killed, this must
be handled total minimum pain and the feasible suffering (Mackay, 2011). In this essay it will
look at whether Christian should become vegetarians, considering they are re-evaluated on the
moral status of the animal since they are concerned with the animal suffering.
Individuals who become vegetarians often speak of the conversion to vegetarianism, because of
this ethical component when it comes to their dietary practices. They have come to realize that
the animals have the feelings and we should not kill them unnecessarily. Communicating to this
ethical concern to the outside world, is much more difficult (Mackay, 2011). The Christian
vegetarians more often find themselves in the odd position of sharing of the central part of their

CHRISTIAN ETHICS 3
lives with the Jewish or the secular vegetarian which they do not share with their own religious
community.
Biblical narrative on killing animals
In the narrative of the Bible God bestowed Noah together with his descendants restricted consent
when it comes to consuming meat, however this is certainly particularly takes place after the sins
comes into the order of the creation (Conradie, 2016). For great the history of the Christian
history the new heavens along with the new earth that has already been pointed out in the New
Testament it is decided to incorporate then nonhuman animals. Based on the Pope Francis he had
pointed out that each in the off the cuff remarks and binding papal records that the afterlife might
be knowledgeable by our fellow creatures (Largen, 2009). This explains that the animals are
cherished animals by God and themselves will certainly predict the external life as the human
experiences. The ramifications of the theological incontrovertible fact that the nonhuman animals
fall under God instead of to the humans, has been obviously to the early Christians compared to
it is to us presently (Largen, 2009). You will find different variation of the Christians that are
commencing to recuperate to an infinitely more conservative view for the animals; one that
honors the Bible along with the traditional Christianity over the present practices of sacrificing
billions of the animals which are regarded idol of consumerism.
Reason why Christians should give up animal cruelty and become vegetarians.
One of the reason is that Gods original menu for the humans was vegan. This has been clearly
examined in Bible in the book of Genesis 1 :29-30 ; it emphasizes that , “Then God stated , I
have provided you every single seed-bearing plant that are on the surface of the entire world and
every tree that has fruit with seed within it (Linzey, 2009) . These will likely be your food. Also

CHRISTIAN ETHICS 4
to all the beasts of the earth together with the birds that are in the sky in addition to the creatures
which move along the ground-everything which breathe of life in it- I give every green plant for
the food.” This shows that God wanted man to eat the green plant for food he did not specify that
the animals be eaten. From my understanding and interpretation is that God clearly highlighted
that the man should eat the green plant for food and did not highlight that the animals he had
provided be food.
Another reason is that eating meat could cause climate change. The Christians are called to be
the caretakers of the creations, yet the meat, eggs as well as dairy food waste much of the
valuable resources and they contribute to the deadly change in the climate (Linzey, 2009). One
of the single most effective things which the Christians could do would be to steward the
creations of God and go vegan. Another reason is the animals do not want to die for our supper.
Jesus understood how animals could much rather take care of their families than end up on our
end plates. According to the Bible in the Scripture of Mathew 23: 37 highlights that, “How often
have I longed to gather on your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.”
There has been questions has to whether it is ethical for the humans to consume the animals. It
appears that the religious leaders all throughout the ages have been able to grapple with the
contradictions which are inherent in the following as well as advocating peaceful existence of the
human while at the same time they are killing and eating the animals (Tester, 2014). When it
comes to the Christians there has been dilemma which is central which has been addressed in the
very first chapter in the Bible Genesis, which has preceded even on the 10 Commandments
which states that the initial thing which God did was creating the humans so they were termed to
steward the earth along with the creatures (Gruen, 2011). The second thing which he announced
was “ to see have I have offered you even the plant which produce seed that are on face of the

CHRISTIAN ETHICS 5
earth, and every tree that has fruit ; you shall have them for food .” This demonstrates an obvious
call for the Vegetarianism from the basis of precisely what God has pointed out.
Eating animals, today has certainly not been taken lightly. The Christian theologians are
rediscovering the links that is between out dietary and spiritual choices (Linzey, 2009). Many
people are arguing that vegetarianism is the diet that is most compatible with the Christian values
for example mercy and compassion. Based on the Anglican priest and the Oxford professor
Andrew Linzey who holds a PHD; they have argued that the Bible shows that to stand with the
Jesus would be to, respect existence for the sake of the lord of life was to stand with the active
empathy for the fragile, against the principle which can be right. Dependent on Linzey view this
indicates the Christians should be vegetarian (Linzey, 2009). The contemporary Christian
vegetarianism has been rooted to the ethical issues in relation to the abuse of the creation.
Historically the Christians who select not to eat the flesh also observed their diet to be the
approach to the larger spirituality along with increased sanctity.
Churches views
Based on the Anglican Church look at the resolution from the 1998 Lambeth conference of the
Anglican Church quite a lot standard to the contemporary considering the Christian with regards
to the animals (Gruen, 2011). In the conference they conducted pointed out that the reaffirmation
of the biblical vision of creation would be the fact it is a web inter-dependent relationships which
is bound together to the covenant which the Holy Trinity has established the entire earth and
precisely what is residing in it (Zur & Klöckner, 2014). Nonetheless, based on the catholic view
it knows about that the animals have an instinctive value and they also have a place in the
kingdom of God. Based on the Catholic Ethics of life, it highlights that the Christians ought to
prevent anything which generate all the unnecessary struggling or maybe death to the animals

CHRISTIAN ETHICS 6
(Mackay, 2011). Based on the Bible it highlights that in God’s plan man along with the woman
have the vocation of subduing worldwide as the stewards of God (Tester, 2014). This therefore,
means that they were given the power to rule over everything on the earth and be the protectors
of the creation of God (Lusk & Norwood, 2016). Furthermore, killing of the creations of God do
not conform to the aspect that they are protecting them irrespective they are eating them for food
purposes.
The Christian have the moral duty to consume the foods which may be significantly less due to
the unnecessary suffering, unjust treatment, or even the human-induced premature death of the
sentient beings that are a lot more focused on preventing the suffering as well as the preserving
on their lives that God highlighted are much valuable and good (Mackay, 2011). Nonetheless,
despite this Biblical interpretations on this issue there are some Christian who eat meat.
Vegetarianism has been a Christian practice which has been based on the impacting
compassionate teachings of Jesus Christ as well as the early church to all the sentient. Currently,
this practice is not the current when it comes to the western Christian belief in addition to their
culture. This notion and practice has just is scriptural and is supported historically.
Some Christian have been eating meat since their interpretation in regards to the Bible is that it
teaches them that human beings possess the dominion over the beasts and killing them for intent
behind food or even any service to the human is a lot permitted (Mackay, 2011). Nevertheless,
putting this aside general contentment of this ethos of dominance within the Christianity, the fact
simply continue to be that when all the scriptural passages which are relevant to the animal
welfare needs to be viewed within the bigger context of the Christian message on the facet of
grace, atonement along with mercy that has already been exhibited all through the Bible
(Mackay, 2011). There exists a considerably argument that has promoted the humane along with

CHRISTIAN ETHICS 7
the compassionate treatment of the animals. In the Biblical point of view there have been strong
case for the complete abstinence from the meat in addition to all the products that has been
taught through the years (Leroy & Praet, 2015).
Many of the celebrated Christian leaders, theologians along with the teacher were all vegetarians
who espoused the view that the consumption of the meat is significantly as opposed to the
Biblical message of love in addition to compassion (Tester, 2014).
Biblical hermeneutics helps to resolve issue why Christian should be vegetarians
Many of the Christians usually become vegetarians since it has to do with what they believe
about God. There usually find that there are assertions when it comes to the scriptures which
God has emphasized with the animals (Tester, 2014). Jesus clearly highlighted that not a sparrow
falls to the ground without the Heavenly Father being emotionally involved. Additionally, many
of the Christians shy away from eating meat because the Bible teaches us that we should treat
our bodies just as the temples of God (Leroy & Praet, 2015). Thus, individual need to do nothing
which will hurt their bodies. Eating of the meat such as the red meat just as dietician would
highlight is not good for the human bodies (Tester, 2014). The scripture commands individuals
to maintain a healthy bodies and vegetarianism is a much healthier way of life. Moreover, in the
peaceful kingdom which the Christ will establish during his second coming, vegetarianism will
again be established order to the all the animals, which will also include the humans.
Conclusion
Becoming a vegan is a personal decision to the Christian, and thus there should be no
condemnation of the ones who eat meat. Nonetheless, according to my view Christian who still
eat meat need to re-evaluate the moral status of the animals, these are the creatures which were

CHRISTIAN ETHICS 8
created by God and the humans were given the Stewardship to dominant them and protect them.
The scripture of the Bible starting from Genesis that God gave humans all the seed yielding
crops for food and did not categorize that the animals be eaten. I do think that the Christians who
eat meat need to consider the reasons which I have provided in the essay as to why they need to
become vegetarians.

CHRISTIAN ETHICS 9
References
Amato, P. R., & Partridge, S. A. (2013). The new vegetarians: Promoting health and protecting
life. Springer.
Conradie, E. M. (2016). What do we do when we eat? Part II-a theological inquiry. Scriptura,
115, 1-21.
Gruen, L. (2011). Ethics and animals: An introduction. Cambridge University Press.
Kessler, C. S., Holler, S., Joy, S., Dhruva, A., Michalsen, A., Dobos, G., & Cramer, H. (2016).
Personality profiles, values and empathy: differences between lacto-ovo-vegetarians and
vegans. Complementary Medicine Research, 23(2), 95-102.
Largen, K. J. (2009). A Christian rationale for vegetarianism. Dialog, 48(2), 147-157.
Leroy, F., & Praet, I. (2015). Meat traditions. The co-evolution of humans and meat. Appetite,
90, 200-211.
Linzey, A. (2009). Creatures of the same God: Explorations in animal theology. Lantern Books.
Lusk, J. L., & Norwood, F. B. (2016). Some vegetarians spend less money on food, others don't.
Ecological Economics, 130, 232-242.
Mackay, H. (2011). Right and wrong: How to decide for yourself. ReadHowYouWant. com.
Tester, K. (2014). Animals and Society (RLE Social Theory): The Humanity of Animal Rights.
Routledge.
Zur, I., & A. Klöckner, C. (2014). Individual motivations for limiting meat consumption. British
Food Journal, 116(4), 629-642.